ICF Coming to America!

The world’s sporting eyes will be drawn to Maryland’s Garrett County September 16-21, 2014 as Deep Creek 2014 hosts the International Canoe Federation’s (ICF) Canoe Slalom World Championships!

This event will be the largest international inbound sporting event in the United States in 2014. Over 1,500 athletes and support staff representing over 40 countries will be calling Maryland home for a week and in some cases longer. These athletes will be watched by over 30,000 spectators. TV cameras will tell Maryland’s story to a worldwide audience – this is truly a unique opportunity in sports.

The Adventure Sports Center International or as we call it ASCI will be the epicenter of the whitewater paddle sport world for five days in September 2014. Maryland, the region and Garrett County have a chance of a lifetime to show the international community how beautiful, how entrenched, how hospitable and dedicated, how hard-working, how we deliver however more importantly how shine and present ourselves on the world stage.

Abroad, I had the privilege of traveling to Prague, Czech Republic with the Deep Creek 2014 delegation for the 2013 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships. Our goal– to receive and bring the ICF flag to the United States and Maryland, as well as, to garner the details necessary to ensure our team is prepared for the undertaking and to ensure our game plan is sound. We are fortunate to be hosting the largest international inbound sporting event in the US in 2014. Our team, our plan and our State stand ready for the challenge! I encourage all of you to visit Maryland Sept. 16-21, 2014 to witness the world’s elite whitewater paddlers take to the only man-made, whitewater mountain top course in the world at the Adventure Sports Center International (ASCI), Garrett County.

Upon my return to Maryland, this past Tuesday, September 24, I had the chance to be in Garrett County as we triggered the countdown clock to Deep Creek 2014 the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships. I stood on the podium proud to be the co-chair of the team that will produce and execute the Worlds. As I was speaking to the gathering of local, regional and state observers it dawned on me, how often does one get to be affiliated with a world championship sporting event? The answer is simple: not often.

For those who read this blog I ask you to consider making Maryland your destination of choice come September 16-21, 2014 as Maryland, Garrett County and ASCI show the world how special a place Deep Creek is. Book early, stay late, but more importantly bring a friend to share in the experience. I promise you, you’ll leave wanting to come back!

We eagerly await next September’s races and the opportunity to watch Garrett County and Maryland shine on the international stage.